Spring prediction 2010

Hey all, a quick note to those who are considering a June trip next year. We had a great salmon run again this summer. Big salmon runs increase the food source the following spring. As the salmon eggs incubate over this winter the salmon carcasses lay buried in the river bottom. Next spring after ice out and during higher water periods from mountain run off spawning rainbows move into the river systems to do their own spawning. But in the spring something else happens. The spring run off exposes last years salmon carcasses. As this happens the salmon fry hatch from the gravel bottom of the rivers and eat the carcasses. Non spawning giant lake run rainbows will move into the river systems to take advantage of this feast. It makes for some great opportunity for the fly angler on small water. True the rainbows are at their heaviest weight in the fall but the spring lake run bows are big with shoulders. You also have longer days to fish in the spring and anyone who has been to Rainbow Point knows this means unlimited fishing time! So if your thinking about a June trip think hard and give us a call. Hope to see you there! Tight lines and a blessed day. Mark and Brad.

The memories

Hello,
Well the season is over but the memories remain. The leafs are changing and falling snow frequents us more often. The photos of our past season make me only wish that the season was a little longer or it was already May and I was on the plane heading back the “Great Land”. Flipping through the photos of smiling guests on a sun baked day, middle of nowhere, I ask myself does it get any better than this?? Of course not!!! As I replay the hours of flying, bear viewing and fishing I guess it is only right that it only last for 4 months otherwise I wouldn’t have this time to reflect.
The sun rose today in Iliamna at 9:01 and the high is supposed to be around 45, 10 degrees warmer than when I left. They have been having an indian summer and it only makes it harder not to be there as the rivers have great flow and the rainbows are feasting on the salmon carcasses that were stranded on the gravel bars when we left. The only comfort in knowing this is that no one else is there either and the rainbows can gorge in peace. With no anglers to stick them the rainbows are at perfect peace and only an occasional eagle or bear crossing the river to push them out of thier perfect feeding lane. What I would give to have a rod in my hand and be on that piece of water. The stories would be as legendary as the rainbows themselves. Well I hope to see you in the spring and if you are planning a trip give me a call and we can be the first lines in the water in June to make more memories for me to enjoy, torture myself …. next fall!!!
Brad

Oct 7

Hey all,
I just got back in the saddle this week and I am in complete shock. Wow!!! You never get used to coming back to the lower 48. The fishing season ended in a flurry with the Carpenter group. Lots of big bows and great weather. My only regret is that it is over and we left with at least 2 weeks of great fishing still to come. We were the last lodge on the rivers again this year. I spent an afternoon on the water after Roy, Pete and Kenny left and the lower river was loooaded with rainbows. I personally caught 2 that were 24″” and 26.5″ in less than 30 minutes and saw 6 more that were much bigger than that. I can hardly wait for spring to get here as those fish will be there, post spawn with the feed bag on. It is going to be insane!! We had another great salmon run this year and this only solidifies that we will have a great start to next year. I hope everyone can make it back and call me directly for availability.
Brad

October 2, 2009 Fishing Report

Hey all! Another guest checked in last night, a father son team from the bay area. I personally fished with this angler years ago and had an unbelievable week. He (Pete) told me his trip this year was even better than that week he spent with me. I was floored as I don’t know how it could have been better! My hat off to Pete and his guide Mike. They caught more trophy rainbows than could be counted. All with heavy girths. Pete said every time his guide Mike told him to do something it resulted in a trophy trout. By the end of the week Pete nicknamed Mike Yoda. Nice job to this father son team and their guide Mike. We look forward to some pictures documenting their trip. The theme to the 2009 trophy trout season clearly is lot’s of big rainbows and lot’s of happy anglers! We look forward to more stories and can’t wait to see everyone next year. Tight lines all and have a blessed day, Mark.

Sept 30, 2009 Fishing Report

Hey everyone, we just heard from Brad and the rest of the crew last night and they are officially finished for the season and are now on their way home. Brad Hughes (owner of the lodge) and several of the guides spent a few hours in between chores fishing iliamna rivers. Needless to say they had some serious fun. Brad told me they were into 24-27 inch fish all over the place with huge girths on them. He said there were so many trophy trout in the river systems it was hard to leave. Every run they fished and boated over had fish in it from 27 to 30 plus inch range. With the girths they rainbows were carrying that puts most of them over ten pounds. Any way he said it was easy fishing for anyone. The last group of the year e-mailed us Monday and said it was one of their best trips ever with half the group breaking personal best records. Not a small statement as they have been with us a long time. Nice job to Roy and Pete and the rest of the crew! Nice job as well to Brad and the rest of the staff at Rainbow Point. Weeks are being closed for 2010 as we speak and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year. We will keep you posted with final fishing reports as the rest of the guests check in. Have a blessed day all. Tight lines, Mark Higgins.

Sept Fishing Report 2009

Hey everyone, we just heard from a couple up there last week, Lynn and Cathy. Their best trip ever! Lot’s of rainbows. A couple of lost 30″ fish, real heart breakers. Still a lot of big fish landed. One thing Lynn commented on was how powerful the Alaskan rainbows fought. I have spoken with Lynn every day since they came home and they want to schedule a trip in 2010 the third week of Sept. Cathy had her best week ever and rumor has it she out fished every angler at the lodge. There was a Father son team there as well, Paul and Garrin. They landed a rainbow that was 26 long by 19 in girth! A truly fat fish. Lynn said there were a lot of chrome fresh fish entering the rivers later in the week so next weeks fishing reports should be world class. Next week will be our final week of the year fishing for trophy rainbow trout. Will keep you posted on fishing reports. Nice job Lynn and Cathy!

September – Alaska: Rainbow and Lake Trout Fishing

Ahh! Our favorite time of year! Giant trophy rainbow trout are the heaviest weight and are in every river system just waiting for you.  If you ever wanted to catch one fat trophy rainbow after the next this is the time of year for you. The reality of hooking into multiple 27-31 inch fish is real and Rainbow Point lodge is the place to get it done.

August – Alaska: Trout and Salmon Fishing

Still very warm and sunny with lots of fish to be caught.  During the second week of August the silver salmon arrive with the sea run dollies not too far behind.  The sockeye are in full spawn and the trail of eggs is now luring the resident rainbows back into the river systems to gorge.  The trout will soon gain 30 – 40% of their body weight making them much harder to land.

July – Alaska: Sockeye Fishing on the Copper River

Talk about beautiful remote Alaska!  What a wonderful time of year, long days, and warm weather ante the start of the sockeye salmon run.  This drainage hosts the largest run of salmon in the world numbering in the millions.  Sockeyes are in the river systems by the second week of July and daily fly out trips are available to visit west Cook Inlet for giant Chum salmon.  Pink salmon also share these waters and it is not uncommon to catch one on every cast.  West Cook Inlet is will leave you awestruck from the scenery that includes active volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and an occasional whale siting.  This is a must see fly out.

June – Alaska: Dry Fly Fishing for Trout and Mouse pattern fishing for Pike

This is the start of our season and an exciting one at that.  The rainbows are finishing up their spawn and feeding aggressively.  The sockeye fry are hatching out of the gravel and the oversized lake run leopard trout are moving into the river system to feast.  The salmon smolt migration is on and the resident trout are making it hard for the smolt to reach the ocean.  Flesh flies come into play as the spring runoff exposes the carcasses from last year’s spawn. Later in the month the dry fly fishing peaks and the resident rainbow, grayling and char are all too happy to cooperate.